V 




ISD 397 
.S4 U5 
1900 
Copy 1 






^ 



REPORT 



BIG TREES OF OALIFOESIA. 



PREPARED IN THE 



DIVISION OF FORESTRY, 

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 
1 1> . 



75404 




CONTENTS 



I'age. 

Summary of facts about Big Trees 5 

Introduction 7 

General facts 8 

First grove discovered 8 

Discovery of other groves 8 

General description and location of Big Tree groves 8 

Calaveras, or "Mammoth " Grove 9 

Stanislaus, or ' ' South Calaveras' ' Grove 9 

Tuolumne Grove 9 

Mariposa Grove 10 

Fresno Grove 10 

Kings River and Kaweah River Grove 11 

Tule River Groves 11 

Dinky and Merced Groves 11 

North Grove 11 

History and size of notable Big Trees 12 

Calaveras or ' ' Mammoth ' ' Grove 12 

Dead trees : 12 

The Mother of the Forest 13 

The Father of the Forest 13 

Living trees - 14 

Table of measurements . 15 

Stanislaus, or " South Calaveras " Grove 16 

Smith's Cabin 16 

Mai-iposa Grove 17 

Table of measurements 17 

The beauty of Big Trees and their environment 18 

Age of the Big Trees 19 

Geologic history of the Big Tree 19 

Natural rejiroduction of the Big Tree — 20 

Botanical description of the Big Tree 21 

Botanical nomenclature of the Big Tree 22 

Introduction of Big Trees into cultivation 22 

Ownership of Big Tree lands 22 

State holdings 22 

Government holdings 23 

Private holdings " 23 

Map showing Fresno and Tulare County holdings 23 

Map showing location of all Big Tree groves 23 

Location of Big Tree lands - 23 

Lumbering the Big Trees 29 

3 



SUMMARY OF FACTS ABOUT THE BIG TREE. 



1. The dimeusioiiH of the Big- Tree are uiiequaled. 

2. The age of the Big Tree makes it the oldest living thing. 

8. The majestic beauty of the Big Tree is unique and world-renowned, 

4. It now exists only in ten isolated groves on the west slope of the 

Sierra Nevada Mountains, and nowhere else in the world. 

5. The Mariposa Grove is to-day the only one of consequence which 

is completely protected. 
t). Most of the scattered groves of Big Trees are privately owned, 
and therefore in danger of destruction. 

7. Lumbering is rapidly sweeping them off; 40 mills and logging 

companies are now at work wholly or in part upon Big Tree 
timber. 

8. The southern groves show some reproduction, through which 

there is hope of perpetuating these groves; in the northei'n 
groves the species hardly holds its own. 

9. The species represents a surviving prehistoric genus of trees once 

growing widely over the globe. 

5 



BIG TREES OF CALTF(3RNIA. 



INTRODUCTION. 

Before the glacial period the geiiits oi ]ng trees called Sequoia 
flourished widely in the temperate ;cone.s of three continents. There 
were iiiany species, and Europe. Asia, and America had each its share. 
But when the ice fields moved down out of the north the luxuriant 
vegetation of the age declined, and with it these multitudes of trees. 
One after another the difl^'erent kinds gave way. their remains became 
buried, and when the ice recedt>d just two species, the Big Tree and 
Redwood, survived. Both grew in California, each separate from the 
other, and each occupying, in comparison with its former territory, a 
mere island of space. As we know them now, the Redwood (Sequoia 
semperviren)i) lives only in a narrow strip of the coast ranges 10 to 
30 miles wide, extending from just within the southern border of 
Oregon to the bay of Monterey, while the Big Tree {Se<2(io!(i. washi luj- 
tonlana) is found only in small groves scattered along the west slope 
of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, from the middle fork of the American 
River to the head of Deer Creek, a distance of 260 miles. The utmost 
search reveals but ten main groups, and the total number of sizable 
trees in these groups nmst be limited to figures in the thousands. It is, 
moreover, the plain truth that all the specimens which are remarkable 
for their size do not exceed 500. 

The Big Trees are unique in the world — the grandest, the largest, the 
oldest, the most majestically graceful of trees — and if it were not 
enough to be all this, they are among the scarcest of known tree species 
and have the extreme scientific value of being the best living repre- 
sentatives of a former geologic age. It is a tree which has come down 
to us through the vicissitudes of many centuries soleh" because of its 
superb qualifications. Its bark is often '2 feet thick and almost non- 
combustible. The oldest specimens felled are still sound at the heart, 
and fungus is an enemy unknown to it. Yet with all these means of 
maintenance the Big Trees have apparently not increased their range 
since the glacial epoch. They have only just managed to hold their 
own on the little strip of country where the climate is locally fa^'or- 
able. 

At the present time the only grove thoroughly safe from destruction 
is the Mariposa, and this is far from being the most interesting. 
Most of the other groves are either in process of, or in danger of, 
being logged. The very finest of all, the Calaveras Grove, with the 
biggest and tallest trees, the most uncontaminated surroundings, and 
practically all the literary and scientific associations of the species con- 
nected with it, has been purchased recently by a lumberman w^ho came 

7 



8 BIG TREES OF CALIFORNIA, 

into full possession on the 1st of April. 1000. The Sequoia and Gen- 
eral Grant National parks, which are supposed to embrace and give 
security to a large part of the remaining Big Trees, are eaten into by 
a sawmill each, and by private timber claims amounting to a total of 
1,172.87 acres. The rest of the scanty patches of Big Trees are in a 
fair way to disappear— rin Calaveras, Tuolumne, Fresno, and Tulare 
counties, they are now disappearing — by the ax. In brief, the major- 
ity of the Big Trees of 'California, certainly the best of them, are 
owned by people who have every right, and in many cases every 
intention, to cut them into luml)er. 

GENEKAL FACTS. 

First Grove Discovered. 

The Calaveras Grove was the first one discovered, having l>een found 
in 1841 by John Bidwell, afterward candidate for member of Congress 
from California. But for some reason this discovery seems to have 
been generally credited to another person, as showni b_\ the following- 
story quoted from '"In the Heart of the Sierras," by J. M. Hutchings: 

In the spring of 1852, Mr. A. T. Dowd, a hunter, was employed Ijy the Union 
-Water Company, of ^Murphy's, Calaveras C'ounty, to supply the workmen engaged 
in the construction of their canal with fresh meat, from the large quantities of game 
running wild on the upper portion of their works. While engaged in this calling, 
"Tiaving wounded a grizzly bear, and while industriously pui'suing him, he suddenly 
came upon one of those immense trees. * * * 

Returning to camp, he there related the wonders he had seen, when his compan- 
ions laughed at him, and even questioned his veracity. -^ * * 

For a day or two he allowed the matter to rest ; submitting, with chuckling satis- 
faction, to their occasional jocular allusions to "his big tree yarn," but continued 
hunting as formerly. On the Sunday morning ensuing, he went out early as usual 
but soon returned * * * when he exclaimed, "Boj's, I have killed the large i. 
grizzly bear that I ever saw in my life. While I am getting a little .something to eat, 
you make every preparation for bringing him in; all had better go that can he spared, 
as their assistance will certainly be needed." 

Nothing loath, they were soon ready for the start. * * * On, on they hurried, 
with Dowd as their guide, through thickets and pine groves; crossing bridges and 
canyons, flats, and ravines, each relating in turn the adventures experienced, or heard 
of from companions, with grizzly bears, and other formidable tenants of the moun- 
tains, until their leader came to a halt at the foot of the immen.3e tree he haa seen, 
and to them had represented the approximate size. Pointing to its extraordinary 
diameter and lofty height, he exultingly exclaimed, "Now, boys, do you believe my 
big tree story? That is the large grizzly I wanted you to see. Do you now think it 
a yarn?" 

Discovery of Other Groves. 

Just how and when the other groves of Big Trees were found is dif- 
ficult to determine. As early as 1864 Professor Brewer, of Yale, and 
a party from the California Geological Survey visited the Calaveras 
and Mariposa groves and also several tracts in the region of Kings 
River, and by 1870 the majority of Big Trees had been located. 

The following account of the dili'erent groves, which is in the main 
accurate and complete, is taken from J. D. Whitney's " Yosemite Guide- 
Book" (1870): " - , 

Gener.\l Description and Location of Big Tree Groves. 

The Big Tree occurs exclusively in "groves" or scattered over limited areas, never 
forming groups by themselves, but always disseminated among a much larger number 
of trees of other kinds. These patches on which the Big Trees stand do not equal m 



Sen Doc. 393, 56th Cong., 1st Sess. 



Plate 




Calaveras Bis Tree Grove: Edge of Grove, showing the "Sentinels" and the Relative Height 
of other assocated forest trees. 



Sen Doc. 393, 56th Cong., 1st Sess. 



Plate II. 




Fig. 1. — Calaveras Big Tree Grove: Sperry'S Hotel from Entrance of Grove, with the 
"Sentinels" on Either Side. 




Fig. 2. — Calaveras Big Tree Grove, North Border : One of the largest Big Trees barked 
MANY Years ago for Exhibition Purposes ; Sugar Pine, Yellov^ Pine, and White 
Fir in view. 



Sen Drjc. 393, 56th Cong.. 1st Sess. 



Plate III. 




The "Grizzly Giant" in the Mariposa Big Tree Grove. 



10 BIG TEEES OF CAHFUENIA. 

ber of trees counted. They stand mostly on the north slope of a hill, rather sheltered 
from the wind, and, so far as observed, are rather smaller than those of the Calaveras 
Grove. The largest sound tree measured was 57 feet in circumference at 3 feet from 
the ground. A stump so burned that only one-half remained was 23 feet in diameter, 
inside the bark at 3 feet from the ground. 

A single Big Tree stands in the woods by itself sijinewhere southwest of the Crane 
Flat Grove, and l)etween it and the INIereed. It is the only instance, so far as we 
know, of the occurence of this species solitary and alone. There is an almost entirely 
unexplored region between the Beaver Creek and the Crane Flat groves, and there 
may possibly be some more Big Trees existing there and not yet discovered.- It is 
about 20 miles, still in a southwesterly direction, from Crane Flat to the INIariposa 
Grove, and that region has been so thoroughly explored by the Survey, that there 
is no reason to suppose that any more of these trees will be found there. 

MA K I cos A (IM)VE. 

The Mariposa Grove is situated about Ui miles directly south of the Lower Hotel 
in the Yosemite Valley, and between 3 and 4 miles southeast of Clark's ranch, and 
at an elevation of about 1,500 feet abo\'e the last-named place, or of some 5,500 feet 
above the sea level. It lies in a little valley, occupying a depression on the back of a 
ridge which runs along in an easterly direction between Big Creek and the South 
Merced. One of the branches of the creek heads in the grove. 

The grant made by Congress is 2 miles square, and embraces, in reality, two dis- 
tinct or nearly distinct groves; that is to say, two collections of Big Trees between 
which there is an intervening space without any. The upper grove is in a pretty 
compact body, containing, on an area of 3,700 by 2,300 feet in dimensions, just 365 
trees of the Sequoia giganlea of a diameter of 1 foot and over, besides a great num- 
ber of small ones. The lower grove, which is smaller in size and more scattered, 
lies in a southwesterly direction from the other, some trees growing quite high up 
in the gulches on the south side of the ridge which separates the two groves. 

The princijial trees associated with the Big Trees in this grove are the pitch and 
sugar pines, the Douglas spruce, the white fir (Picea grandig) [now ^I6(es concnior], 
and the ])astard cedar {Libocedrus decuririts). 

There are but very few of the young Big Trees growing within the grove, where 
probably they have been destroyed by fire. Around the base of several of the large 
trees on the outskirts of the grove there are small [natural] plantations of young 
Sequoias of all sizes up to 6 or 8 inches in diameter, but only a few as large as this. 
Those trees which are about 10 feet in diameter and entirely uninjured by fire, in 
the full symmetry of a vigorous growth of say 500 years, are, although not as stupen- 
dous as the older'giants of the forest, still exceedingly beautiful and impressive. 

The southern division of the Mariposa Grove, or Lower Grove, as it 'S usually 
called, is said to contain about half as many (182) trees as the one just described. 
They are much scattered among other trees, and do not, therefore, present as impos- 
ing an ajipearance as those in the other grove, where quite a large number can often 
be seen from one point. The largest tree in the lower grove is the one known as the 
"Grizzly Giant," which is 93 feet 7 inches in circumference at the ground, and 64 
feet 3 inches at 11 feet above. (See Pi. III. ) Its two diameters at the base, as near as 
we could measure, were 30 and 31 feet. The calculated diameter at 11 feet above 
the ground is 20 feet, nearly. The tree is very much injured and decreased in size by 
burning, for which no allowance has been made in the above measurements. Some 
of the brani'hes of this tree are fully 6 feet in diameter, or as large as the trunks of 
the largest elms in the Connecticut Valley, of which Dr. Holmes has so pleasantly 
discoursed in the Atlantic Monthly. This tree, however, has long since passed its 
prime, and has the battered and war-worn appearance conveyed by its name. 

FRESNO (UIOVE. 

The next grove south of the Mariposa is one in Fresno County, about 14 miles 
southeast of Clark's, and not far from a conspicuous point called Wammelo Eock. 
Mr. Clark has described this grove, which we had not visited, as extending for above 
2i miles in length by from 1 to 2 in breadth. He has counted 500 trees in it, and 
believes the whole number to be not far from 600. The largest measured .81 feet in 
circumference at 3 feet from the ground. 

No other grove of Big Trees has been discovered to the southeast of this along the 
slope of the Sierra, until we reach a point more than 50 miles distant from the Fresno 
Grove. Here, between the Kings and Kaweah rivei-s, is by far the most extensive 
collection of trees of this species which has yet been discovered in the State. 



BICi TKEES OK CALlFOKiSflA. 11 

KIN(iS UIVEK AM) KAWKAII lUVKH (iI{()VK. 

Thin belt of treey, for ^rove it can hardly la' ralleil, oceans about 'AO niiU-s north- 
northeast of Visalia, on the tributarie!-; of the Kings and Kaweah rivers, and on the 
divide between. They are scattered over the sloi)es and on tlie valleys, but are 
larger in the dei)ressions, where the soil is more moist. Along the trail which runs 
from Visalia to the Big Meadows, the belt is 4 or 5 miles wide, and it extends over a 
vertical range of abjut 2,500 feet; its total length is as much as S or 10 miles, and 
maybe more. The trees are not collected together into groves, but are scattered 
through the forests, and associated with the other species usually occurring at this 
altitude in the Sierra. They are most al)undaiit at from t>,000 to 7,000 feet elevation 
above the sea level. Their nundjer is great; probably thousands might be counted. 
Their size, however, is not great, the average being from 10 to 12 feet in diameter, 
and but few exceeding 20 feet; but smaller ones are very numerous. One tree, which 
had been cut, had a diameter of 8 feet, exclusive of the Irnrk, and was 377 years old. 
The largest one seen was near Thomas's ]Mill; this had a cii-cumference of 106 feet 
near the ground, no allowance being made for a portion which was burned away at 
the base. When entire the tree may have been 10 or 12 feet more in circumference. 
At about 12 feet from the ground the circumference was 75 feet. Its height was 276 
feet. The top ^\•as dead, however, and, although the tree was symmetrical and in 
good growth, it had passed its prime. 

Another tree, which had fallen, and had been burned hollow, was so large, tliat 
three horsemen could ride abreast into the cavity for a distance of 30 feet, its height 
and width being about 11 feet. At a distance of 70 feet the diameter of the cavity- 
was still as much as 8 feet. The l)ase of this tree could not be easily measured, but 
the trunk was burned through at 120 feet from the ground, and at that point had a 
diameter (exclusive of the bark) of 13 feet 2 inches ; and at 169 feet from its base the 
tree was 9 feet in diameter. The Indians stated that a still larger tree existed to 
the north of Kings River. This tree should be looked up and carefully measured; 
unfortunately, it was not in the jwwer of our party to do this. 

All through these forests there are numerous young Big Trees, of all sizes, from the 
seedling upward, and at Thomas's Mill they are cut up for lumber in a manner 
quite at variance with the oft-rei)eated story of the exceptional character of the spe- 
cies. Prostrate trunks of old trees are also numerous ; some of them nnist have lain 
for ages, as they were nearly gone, while the wood is very durable. 

ITLK KIVICI! (iltoVES. 

The only other groves yet discovered are those on the Tule River, of which there 
are two, one on the north and the other on the sotith branch of that stream. They 
are 15 miles apart, and the most northerly of the two is about 30 miles from the 
grove last described. As the intervening region has been but little explored, it is 
not at all unlikely that more of the Big Trees- may l)e found along the fork of the 
Kaweah which intersects this region with its numerous branches. We are not aware 
that these two Tule groves were known previous to their discovery by Mr. 
D'Heureuse, one of the topographers of the Geological Survey, in 1867; at least, no 
notice of them had ever appeared in print. The number of trees in these groves is 
quite large, as they are scattered over several square miles of area. The largest of 
them were said by I\Ir. D'Heureuse to be aV)out the size of the largest in the other 
groves. 

DINKY AXI) MEKCEl) GROVES. 

Veiy little feliable information is obtainable at present concerning 
these g-roves. The Dinky Grove is located on Dinky Creek, one of 
the north tributaries of Kings River, and is said to have been acci- 
dentally discovered ])y two hunters in the early seventies. It is also 
said to contain only a small niunber of trees. 

The Merced Grove is a small group located on and near the head- 
waters of the Merced River, and reported to contain less than 100 
trees. 

THE NORTH (iROVE. 

This can hardly be called a grove, but is so named for uniformity of 
designation with other larger groups. It comprises six living trees, 



12 BIG TREES OF CALIFORNIA, 

and i,s located in southern Placer County, on a tributaiy stream of the 
middle fork of the American River. The elevation of the grove is 
5,100 feet al)ove sea level. The grove is about !^0 miles southeast of 
Red Point Mine, on the Forest Hill Divide, and about 15 miles west 
of the mining camp, Michigan Blurt", from both of which points the 
trees can be reached by trail. The grove is about TO miles north of 
the Calaveras or "Mammoth" Big Tree Grove. 

This grove is said to have been discovered by an old miner, Joe 
Matlock, in 1855. It appears also to have been long known to the set- 
tlers of the region, as shown by the dates 1860 to 1890 cut into the 
smooth-barked alders near the Big Trees. But the first authentic 
account of this grove was published l)y W. W. Price in the January 
issue of the Sierra Club Bulletin for 1893. 

Of the six trees comprising the grove, only two are of large size. 
These are respectively 220 and 240 feet high and 12 and 10 feet in 
diameter at -t feet from the ground. The other trees are about 180 
feet high and 8 feet in diameter. 

A few small Big Trees in this grove have been lilown down, and one 
quite large tree is said to have gone down subsequent to 1885. About 
200 feet of the trunk is still intact. The full height is not known, as 
the top of the tree was broken ofl' before the trunk fell. The diameter 
at the roots of the tree was 20 feet. One other large dead tree, 28 
feet in diameter, is said to have been blown down in 1855, but the 
trunk has since disappeared — probably by forest tires, which have 
frequently raged through the region. 

HiSTOKY AND SiZE OF XoTABLK BiG TrEES. 
CALAVERAS OR " MAMMOTH " (iROVE. 

The history and figures showing the size of notable Big Trees in this 
grove occur in the following extracts. 

dkah trees. 

In 1853 one of the largest trees was cut down. It is said to be the 
original tree discovered by John Bidwell (or by A. T. Dowd. as the 
more current story has it). 

Its diameter across the solid wood, after the bark was removed (and whicli was 
from 15 to 18 inches in thickness) , is 25 feet, although the tree was cut off 6 feet above 
the ground. However incredible it iBay appear, on July 4, 1854, the writer' formed 
one of a cotillion party of 32 persons dancing ui)on this stump, in addition to which 
the musicians and lookers-on numbered 17, making a total of 49 occupants on its sur- 
face at one time. The accompanying sketch was made at that time, and, of course, 
before the present pavilion was erected over it. There i.s no more srikiugly con- 
vincing jtroof, in anv grove, of the immense size of the Big Trees, than this stump. 
[See PI. IV.] 

This tree was 302 feet in height, and, at the ground, 96 feet in circumference, before 
it was disturbed. Some sacrilegious vandals, from the motive of making its exposi- 
tion "pay," removed the bark to the height of 30 feet; and afterwards transported it 
to Englaiid, where it was formed into a room; Ijut was afterwards consumed by fire 
with the celebrated Crystal Palace at Kensington, England. This girdling of the 
tree very naturally brought death to it ; but even then its majestic forni nuist have 
perpetually taunted the belittled and sordid spirits that caused it. It is, however, 
but an act of justice to its present proprietor, Mr. James L. Sperry,^ to state that, 



^ J. M. Hutchings in "In the Heart of the Sierras." 

■■^ Mr. Sperry has recently sold this grove to a lumberman, as stated in the intro- 
duction. 



Bid TREES OV CALIFOKNIA. 1 .'^ 

altiiougli lie li;is been tlic dwirm- of lli(> ifi'ovc for over twenty j'cars, tliat act ot' vaiidal- 
i.siu was iierpetrated befort' lie imrchaseil it, <ir it would never have been permitted. 

Mr. Hutohings^ closcribes the felling of this tree as follows: 

The next act in this botanical tragedy was the cutting down of the tree, in order 
to accommodate those who wished to carry home specimens of its wood as souvenirs 
of their visit. But how to do this was the puzzling (conundrum! If one could fit- 
tingly imagine s<^ ludicrous a sight as a few lilliputian men attempting to chop down 
this br()l)dingnagian giant, his contempt would reach its becoming climax. This, 
therefore, was given upas altogether too chimerical and impracticable. Finally, the 
plan was adopted of boring it off with pump augers. This employed five men twenty- 
two days to accomplish; and after the stem was finally severed from the stmnp, the 
uprightness of its position, and breadth of its base, prevented its overthrow; so that 
two and a half of the twenty-two days were spent in inserting wedges, and driving 
them into the Initt of the tree, by logs suspended on ropes, thereby to compel its 
downfall. While these slow and apjiarently hopeless attempts were being under- 
taken, and the workmen had retired for dinner, a gust of wind took hold of its top, 
and hurled it over witliout the least seeming effort; its fall causing the earth to trem- 
ble as l>y an earthquake. Thus this noble monarch of the forest was dethroned 
after "braving the battle and the breeze" for nearly two thousand years. Verily, 
how little real \eneration does the average man possess. 

TJir Moilirr of the Foreftt. — In this gi'ove once stood a most beautiful tree, graceful 
in form and unexcelled in proportions; hence (as in human experience) those very 
qualities at once became the most attractive to the eyes of the unfeeUng spoliator. 
This bore the queenly name of The ^Mother of the Forest. 

In the summer of 1854, the bark was stripped from its trunk, by a Mr. George 
Gale, for purposes of exhibition in the East, to the height of 116 feet. (See PI. Il, 
tig. 2.) It now measures in circumference, at the base, without the bark, 84 feet; 20 
feet from base, 69 feet; 70 feet from base, 43 feet 6 inches; 116 feet from base, and up 
to the bark, 89 feet (> inches. The full circumference at base, including bark, was 
90 feet. Its height was .321 feet. The average' thickness of bark was 11 inches, 
although in places it was about 2 feet. T^his tree is estimated to contain 537,000 feet of 
sound inch lumber. To the first l>ranch it is 137 feet. 

The small black marks upon the tree indicate points where 25-inch auger holes 
were bored, and into these rounds were inserted, by which to ascend and descend 
while removing the bark. At different distances upward, especially at the top, 
numerous dates and names of visitors have been cut. It is contemplated to construct 
a circular stairway around this tree. When the bark was being removed, a young 
man fell from the scaffolding — or rather out of a <lescending noose — at a distance of 
79 feet from the ground, and escaped with a broken limb. The writer was within a 
few yards of him \\hen he fell, and was agreeably surj^rised to discover that he had 
not broken his neck. 

Tlif Father of the Forest. — But a short distance from this [The Mother of the Forest] 
lies the prostrate form of one that was probably the tallest Sequoia that ever grew — 
The Father of the Forest. This tree, when standing in its primitive majesty, is 
accredited with exceeding 400 feet in height, with a circumference at its base of 110 
feet; and, although limbless, without l)ark, and even much of its sap [wood] decayed 
and gone, has still proportions tliat once could crown him king of the grove. In 
falling it struck against "Old Hercules," another old-time rival in size, by which the 
upper part of his trunk was shivered into fragments, that were scattered iii every 
direction. While fire has eaten out the heart of "The Father of the Forest," and 
consumed his huge limbs, as of many others, the following measurements, recently 
taken, will prove that he was among thegiantsof those days, and that "even in death 
still lives." From the roots, to where the center of the trunk can be reached on 
horseback, it is 90 feet. The distance that one can ride erect through it on horseback 
is 82 feet 6 inches. Height of entrance, 9 feet 4 inches; of arch to floor, 10 feet 9 
inches. j\.cross the roots it is 28 feet; to where one would have an idea of standing 
to chop it down, 23 feet 2 inches; 10 feet from the roots its diameter is 20 feet 8 
inches; 100 feet from roots, 12 feet 1 inch; 150 feet from roots, 10 feet 4 inches; 
extreme length, to where any sign of top can be found, 365 feet. 

But no one can approximately realize the immense proportions of this prostrate 
forest sire, without clindoing to its to]), and walking down it for its entire length; by 
this, moreover, he will ascertain that it was nearly 200 feet to the first branch. At 
the end of the burnt cavity within, is a never-failing spring of deliciously cool water. 

' J. M. Hutchings in "In the Heart of the Sierras." 



14 THG TREP:K of CALIFORNIA. 

The handsome group of statel.v trees that encompass the "Father of the Forest," 
make it an imposing family eircle, and probably assisted in originating the name. 

And this is only one of the numerous vegetable giants that Time's scythe has laid 
low, for near here lies "Old Hei'cules," the largest standing tree in the grove until 
1862, then being 325 feet in height by 95 feet m circumference, at the ground; this 
was blown down that year during a heavy storm; "The JNIiner's Cabin," 319 feet 
long by 21 in diameter, thrown over by a gale in 1860; and "The Fallen Monarch," 
which has probably been down for centuries. 

This trunk is still 18 feet in diameter, and was probably over 300 
feet high and 25 or more feet in diameter. 

UVINC, TREES. 

The following list^ includes the notable living trees in the Calaveras 
Grove. Most of them are marked with marble tablets, which bear the 
names of States, distinguished statesmen, generals, and scholars. 

The "Two Sentinels," over 300 feet high, the larger 23 feet in diameter. [See 
PI. I and PI. II, fig. 1.] 

"U. S. Grant," named in 1865. 

" W. T. Sherman," named in 1865. 

" J. B. McPherson," named in 1865. 

"Pride of the Forest," once named "The Eagle:" 300 feet high and 23 feet in 
diameter. 

"Phil Sheridan," 300 feet high. 

"Three Graces," standing in close line and the most beautiful cluster in the grove. 

"Andrew Johnson," named in 1865. 

"Florence Nightingale," once named "Nightingale:" named in 1865 by a nephew 
of the English lady. 

"Bay State." 

"W. C. Brvant," named in 1865 bv a ladv, an admirer of the poet. 

"W.H.Seward." 

"Pioneer's Cabin," named from the cabin-like chamber and chimney formed by 
its hollow trunk. 

"Pluto's Chimney," 280 feet high and 17 feet in diameter: hollowed out on one 
side by fire for 90 feet above ground. 

"Quartette," a cluster of four trees, the tallest, 220 feet. 

"America," 280 feet high and 13 feet in diameter; named in 1865 by a San Fran- 
cisco lady. 

"California," once called "Ada;" named in 1865. 

"Broderick," once called "Mary;" named in 1865. 

"Henry Ward Beecher," 280 feet high and 14 feet in diameter. 

"Abraham Lincoln," once called "Hermit;" 320 feet high and 18 feet in diameter. 

"Elihu Burritt." 

"Uncle Sam.'' 

"Alta (Upper) California." 1 

"Generil'wadsworth." Average height, 260 feet; average diameter, 15 feet. 

"The Twins." J 

"General Sutter." The trunk divides at 30 feet above ground and forms two 
trunks, each 280 feet high. 
"Salem Witch." 
' ' Longfellow. ' ' 

" Dr TihnTorr" v " T ^'^™*^'^^ '" honor of distmguished American botanists. 

"The Trinity"; three trees from one trmik, the circumference of which is 60 feet. 

"Starr King," 360 feet high. 

"Richard Cobden." 

"John Bright." 

" Daniel O'Connel." 

"Edward Everett." 

' ' Keystone State. ' ' 

"Sir John Franklin." "I v„ ■, ■ locou t j t7 i i- 

" br Kane " ( ^^'^^^'^ "^ 1^"- "X Lady Franklin. 

^Compiled from Nelson's "Atlantic and Pacific Tourists' Guide." 



ma TREES OF TALIFORNIA. 



15 



"C-enturv "; named in lS(i5 in iionnr of The Century Association, of New York, of 
wliicli the poet Bryant was president. 

'■'■ itphStw. } «*-"*■« «'- '»^-"- 

1 1 Sequoia Queen." \^ j ^ . ^^ ^^ ^^^^ "(^leen" in the .-enter. 

Maids ot Honor. ( ' 

"Sir Joseph Hooker"; named in honor of the Enghsh botani.st. 
"John Lindley"; named in honor of the English botanist who was tlie first to 
name and describe the Big Tree. 

"Mother and Son"; a large and small tree together. 

"General Scott," 325 feet high. 

"Old Bachelor." 

"Kentucky." 

"The Siamese Twins." ) 

"Daniel Webster." > Average height, ;!()5 feet; average diameter, 20 feet. 

"Granite State." ) 

"The Old Republican." 

"Henry Clay." 

"Andrew Jackson." 

' ' Vermont. ' ' 

"Empire State," 94 feet in circumference. 

"Old Dominion." 

"George Washington." 

"Uncle Tom's Cabin." 

"The Beauty of the Forest." 

The following- table gives additional measurements for some of the 
a})Ove-named Big- Trees in the Calaveras drove. These figiu'es are 
believed to be conservative tmd to express more nearly the actual sizes 
of the trees named: 

Height and diameter measurements of trees i« t}ie Calaveras frrove.^ 



Name of tree. 



Diameter 6 




feet above 


Height. 


ground. 




Feet. 


Feet. 


14.3 


325 


12.7 


319 


19.4 


315 


15 


307 


16.6 


283 


13.1 


284 


15.3 


282 


15 


280 


14.6 


275 


16.2 


274 


15.6 


272 


15.9 


271 


9.6 


269 


14 


268 


8.6 


266 


12.7 


265 


13.7 


265 


16.2 


261 


9.6 


262 


1.5.3 


262 


10.8 


261 


16.2 


256 


13.7 


258 


10.8 


252 


10.5 


250 


1.5.9 


250 


12.4 


249 


9.9 


246 


11.8 


246 


8.6 


239 


9.9 


231 



Kcj-stonc State 

General ,la( kson 

Mother cii tlie Forest (without bark) 

Daniel Webster 

T. Starr King 

Richard Cobden 

Pride of the Forest 

Henry Clay 

Bay State 

James King of William 

Sentinel 

Dr. Kane 

Arborvitse Queen 

Abraham Lincoln 

Maid of Honor 

Old Vermont 

Uncle Sam 

Mother and Son (Mother) 

Three Graces (highest) 

William Cullen Brvant 

U. S. Grant " 

George Washington 

General Scott 

Henry Ward Beecher 

California 

Uncle Tom's Cabin 

Beauty of the Forest 

J. B. McPher.son 

Florence Nightingale 

James Wadsworth 

Elihu Burritt 



' From J. D. Whitney's " Yosemite Guide-Book." For a readier conception of size, 
Mr. Whitney's circumference measurements are here converted into equivalent diam- 
eters. 



18 T5Ta TEEES OF CALIFORNIA. 

These mea.suivnieiils will have a new value when it is renieinl)erod 
that they are now nearly 40 ye:trs old — old enough to make remeasure- 
nient very interesting' for eouiparison. 

STAXISI.AfS OR "south CALAVERAS " GROVE. 

This grove contains i.o8<> Big Trees, ranging in diameter from 1 foot 
to 34 feet. ' . 

Mr. Hutchings deseri):)es the trees of note in this grove as follows: 

The large number of these immense trees, from 30 feet to over 100 feet in circum- 
ference, at the ground, and in almost everj' position and condition, would become 
almost bewildering were I to present in detail each and everyone; a few notable 
examples, therefore, will suffice as rei^resentatives of the whole. (See PI. V.) 

The first Big Tree that attracts our attention, and which is seen from the ridge 
north of the Stanislaus River, is the "Columbus," a magnificent specimen, with 
three main divisions in its branches, and standing alone. Passing this we soon enter 
the lower end of the South Grove' and arrive at the " New York," 104 feet in cir- 
cumference, and over 300 feet in lieight. Near to this is the " Corresjiondent," a tree 
of stately proportions, named in honor of the " Knights of the Quill." The "Ohio" 
measures 103 feet in circumference, and is 311 feet in height. The "Massachusetts" 
is 98 feet, with an altitude of 307. 

Near to a large black stump, above this, stands a tree that is 76 feet in circumfer- 
ence, that has been struck by. lightning, 170 feet from its base; where its top was 
shivered into fragments, and hurled in all directions for over 100 feet from the tree; 
the ]nain stem being rent from top to bottom, the apex of this dismantled trunk 
l)eing 12 feet in diameter. The "(Jrand Hotel" is Imrned out so badly that nothing 
l)ut a mere living shell is left. This will hold 40 persons. Then comes the "Canal 
Boat ;" which, as its name implies, is a prostrate tree; the upper side and heart of 
which have been burned away, so that the remaining portion resembles a huge l)oat; 
in the bottom of which thousands of young Big Trees have started out in life; and, if 
no acc-ident l^efalls them, in a thousand or two years hence, they may be respectable- 
sized trees, that can worthily take the places of the representatives of "this noble genus, 
and, like these, challenge the admiring awe of intellectual giants of thatdav and age. 
(See PI. V, fig. 1. ) 

"Noah's Ark" was another prostrate shell that was hollow for 150 feet; through 
which, for 60 feet, three horsemen could ride abreast; but the snows of recent winters 
have broken in its roof, and blocked all further jiassage down it. Next comes the 
"Tree of Refuge," where, during one severe winter, 16 cattle took shelter; but sub- 
sequently perished from starvation. They found protecti(m from tlie storm, but their 
bleaching l^ones told the sad tale of their sufferings and death from lack of food. 
Near to this lies "Old Goliath," the largest decumbent tree in tlie grove; whose cir- 
cumference was over 100 feet, and, Avhen erect, was of proportionate height to the 
tallest. During the gale that prostrated "Hercules," in the Calaveras Grove, this 
grand old tree had also to succumb. One of his stalwart lind^s was 11 feet in 
diameter. 

smith's ( abin. 

There is another notable specimen, which somewhat forms a sequel to the above, 
known as Smith's Cabin, on account of its having Ijeen the chosen residence of a 
trapper and old mountaineer named A. J. Smith — Andrew Jackson Smith — who made 
the charred hollow of this burnt-out tree hi lonely home for tliree years. (See PI. 
VI. ) There is no telling what these old denizens of the mountains can or will do when 
they have made up their minds to anything. The diameter of ins cabin — which was 
to him a bedroom, sitting room, kitchen, and sometimes, during stormj' weather, a 
stable for his liorse — was 21 feet l)y 16. * * * On one occasion a regular "south- 
easter" was on the rampage, hurling down trees, twisting off l)ranches, tossing about 
tree tops, and liml)s, in all directions. As the old trapper dare not venture out, he sat 
listening, with uncjuestionable interest, to ascertain whether the wind or "Smith's 
Cabin" was becoming the better wrestler of the two. At this juncture an earth- 
trembling crash came with nerve-testing force, that made his hair stand on end, when 
he jumped to his feet, using certain emphatic ^vords (the synonyms of which can be 
found in "holy writ," or elsewhere), thinking, as he afterwards expressed it, "that it 



' So called by many from its position immediately southeast of the Calaveras Grove, 
which is often called "North Grove." 





I I 



Sen. Doc. 393. 56th Cong , 1st Sess 



Plate VI. 




SMITH'S Cabin, a Giant Bij Tree in the Stanislaus Grove, the Hollow Base having been used in 
Early Years as a Hunter'S Cabin. 



Sen Doc. 393, 56th Cong,, 1st Se 



Plate V||. 




Big Trees in the Mariposa Grove, 



Sen. Doc. 393, 56th Cong., 1st Ses 



Plate VIII. 










The Big Tree "Wawona- in the Mariposa Grove, showing the Relative Size of other Conifers compared 

WITH Bi3 Trees. 



BTG TREKS OK CALIFOKNIA. 



17 



was all u-|> witli liiiii." As this was tlic ilownlall >>( "( »1<1 < inliatli," lie liogan to fear 
that old IJoivas was getting tlic best of tlic match, if he did not claim tiie gate-money, 
and that "SniitirsC'ahin " woulil lie thenextgiant tlirown. P>nt, lieinga liravemau — 
and who conld Uve .such a hfe as liis if lie were not? — and knowing well that he 
could not do better, concluded to look this danger un(|uailiiigly in the face, as he had 
done many a one before it, stay where he was, aii<l take the best, or worst, that 
might l)efall him. 

.MAItll'OSA (JROVK. 



From the following table it will be seen that there are several trees in this grove 
larger than any in the Calaveras, and that their average size is greater. The average 
height of the Mariposa trees, however, is less than that of the Calaveras; and the high- 
est of the former, 272 feet, is 53 feet less than the tallest one of the latter. There is 
a burned stump on the north side of the gnjve, nearly all gone, but indicating a tree 
of a size perhaps a little greater than any now existing there. The beauty of the 
Mariposa Grove has been sadly marred by the ravages of tire, which has evidently 
swept through it again and again, almost ruining many of the finest trees. Still, the 
general appearance of the grove is extremely grand and imposing. There are about 
125 trees over 40 feet in circumference.^ (See Pis. VII and VIII. ) 

IleigJit and dktmeicr measurements of trees in the Marrposa Groce.'^ 



No. 


Height. 


Diameter 
at ground. 


Diameter 

at 6 feet 

above the 

ground. 


Remarks. 


(; 
11 

12 

15 

16 

20 

21 

27 

29 

31 

35 

38 

49 

51 

52 

60 

64 

66 

69 

70 

77 

102 

158 

164 

169 

171 

174 

194 

205 

206 

216 

I 226 

236 

i 238 

1 239 

1 245 

1 253 

262 

275 

286 

290 

301 

304 

330 

348 


Feet. 


Feet. 
24.7 
23.1 
19.8 
19.8 


Feet. 


Hollow. 

Burned at base. 

Much burned at base. 
Badly burned on one side. 

Two trees, united at the base. 
Much burned on one side: formerly ov 
in circumference. 

Much burned at base. 

Burned on one side. 

Do. 
Half burned away at ba.se. 
Burned on one .side nearly to center. 

All burned away ou one side. 


•V KKI feet 










244 
272 






27.6 
23.1 






17.5 
14.0 




250 


15.3 
28.6 
11.4 
20.7 
8.6 




186 


9.4 
16.2 


226 
194 
218 
249 




17.8 


12.4 
12.7 
18.8 
15.9 


26.0 
26.0 
12.7 
11.4 
14.0 




221 
219 
225 
197 
255 
223 
243 






8.8 
15.9 








8.8 


25.4 
26.3 






268 
192 
229 

235 


13.0 
14.6 




28.6 
22.4 






20.1 
15.3 
14.6 
18.2 
8.5 
21.4 
19.1 




219 
256 














187 
270 




26.0 
23.7 
17.8 
21.0 
24.2 














14.6 
•16.2 






260 


29.5 
29.2 




227 


16.2 







^Froni J. D. Whitney's "Yosemite Guide-Book. " 
■^Compiled from J. D. "Whitney's "Yosemite Guide-Book' 

S. Doc. 393 2 



(1870). 



18 BIG TEEES OF CALIFOKNIA. 

THE 15EAUTY OF BK; TKEES AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT. 

The beauty of the Big- Trees and their surroundings is nowhere more 
vividh' described than in Mr. John Muir's ''Mountains of California." 
He says: 

So exquisitely harmonious and finely balanced are even the very mightiest of these 
monarchs of the woods in all their proportions and circumstances there never is any- 
thing overgrown or monstrous-looking about them. On coming in sight of them for 
the first time, you are likely to say, "Oh, see what beautiful, noble-looking trees are 
towering there among the firs and pines!" their grandeur being in the meantime in 
great part invisible, but to the living eye it will be manifested sooner or later, steal- 
ing slowly on the senses, like the grandeur of Niagara, or the lofty Yosemite domes. 
Their great size is hidden from the inexperienced observer as long' as they are seen at 
a distance in one harmonious view. 

AVhen, however, you approach them and walk round them, you begin to wonder 
at their colossal size and seek a measuring rod. These giants bulge considerably at 
the base, but not more than is required for beauty and safety; and the only reason 
that this bulging seems in some cases excessive is that only a comparatively small sec- 
tion of the shaft is seen at once in near views. One that I measured in the Kings 
River forest was 25 feet in diameter at the ground, and 10 feet in diameter 200 feet 
above the ground, showing that the taper of the trunk as a whole is charmingly fine. 
And when you stand back far enough to see the massive columns from the swelling 
instep to the lofty summit dissolving in a dome of verdure, you rejoice in the 
unrivaled display of combined grandeur and beauty. About 100 feet or more of the 
trunk is usually iM-anchle.ss, ])ut its massive simplicity is relieved by the bark furrows, 
which instead of making an irregular network run evenly parallel, like the fluting of 
an architectural column, and to some extent by tufts of slender sprays that wave 
lightly in the winds and cast flecks of shade, seeming to have been pinned on here 
and there for the sake of beauty only. 

The young trees have slender, simple branches down to the ground, put on with 
strict regularity, sharply aspiring at the top, horizontal about half way down, and 
drooping in hanilsome curves at the base. By the time the sapling is five or six 
hundred years old this spiry, feathery, juvenile habit merges into the firm, rounded, 
dome form of middle age, which in turn takes on the eccentric picturesqueness of old 
age. No other tree in the Sierra forest has foliage so densely massecl or presents 
outlines so firmly drawn and so steadily subordinate to a special type. A knotty, 
ungovernable-looking branch o to 8 feet thick may be seen pushing out abruptly 
from the smooth trunk, as if sure to throw the regular curve into confusion, but as 
soon as the general outline is reached it stops short and dissolves in spreading bosses 
of law-abiding sprays, just as if every tree were growing beneath some huge, invisible 
bell glass, against whose sidesevery branch was being pressed and molded, yet some- 
how indulging in so many small departures from the regular form that there is still 
an appearance of freedom. 

The foliage of the saplings is dark bluish green in color, while the older trees 
ripen to a warm brownish-yellow tint like Libocedrus. The bark is rich cinnamon 
brown, purplish in young trees and in shady portions of the old, while the ground 
is covered with l)rown leaves and burs, forming color masses of extraordinary rich- 
ness, not to mention the flowers and underbrush that rejoice about them in their 
seasons. Walk the Sequoia woods at any time of year and you will say that they 
are the most beautiful and majestic on earth. Beautiful and impressive contrasts 
meet you everywhere; the colors of tree and flower, rock and sky, light and shade, 
strength and frailty, endurance and evanescence, tangles of supple hazel bushes, tree 
pillars about as rigid as granite domes, roses and violets, the smallest of their kind, 
blooming around the feet of the giants, and rugs of the lowly Chamaebatia where the 
sunbeams fall. Then in winter the trees themselves break forth in bloom, myriads 
of small four-sided staminate cones crowd the ends of the slender sprays, coloring 
the whole tree, and when ripe dusting the air and the ground with golden pollen. 

The fertile cones are bright grass-green, measuring about 2 inches in length by 1^ 
in thickness, and are made up of about 40 firm rhomboidal scales densely packed, 
with from 5 to 8 seeds at the base of each. A single cone, therefore, contains from 
200 to 300 seeds, which are about a fourth of an inch long by three-sixteenths wide, 
including a thin, flat margin that makes them go glancing and wavering in their fall 
like a boy's kite. The fruitfulness of Sequoia may be illustrated by two specimen 
branches 1 J and 2 inches in diameter on which I counted 480 cones. No other Sierra 
conifer produces nearly so many seeds. Millions are ripened annually by a single 
treC) and in a fruitful year the product of one of the northern groves would be enough 



BT(I TREES OK CALIFORNIA. 1*.) 

to plant all tlie nionntaiii ranjres of the wofM."" i'>ut very lew of the millions of seeds 
which fall to the gronnd genninate, "and of those that do perhaps not 1 in 10,000 
is suffered to live through the many vicissitudes of storm, drought, fire, and snow- 
crushing that beset their youth." 

AQK OF THE BIG TREES. 

The extreme age attained hy the Big Tree is still an unsettled ques- 
tion. Statements on the subject vary considerably, some appearing to 
be exaggerations. One great difficulty, however, in settling the ques- 
tion of age. at least for existing trees, is the lack of a proper iunn})er 
of trunk sections on which to count the rings of annual growth, thus 
giving unquestionable data on age. 

Ring countings from prostrate and burned or decayed trunks and 
sections of trees felled for other purposes than ring counting, have 
largely furnished the basis of the age estimates made so far, and from 
these countings age estimates have been made for trees of other sizes 
which could not of course be cut down. 

These generalizations not being based on ring countings from a 
series of trunk sections representing the full range in diameter of all 
trees now known, the statements as to the extreme age possible for 
these trees are necessarily approximative. It is the opinion of Mr. 
Hutchings that the average rate of growth is 1 inch of diameter for 
every twelve years, which would make a tree 25 feet through 8,600 
years old. Mr. Muir's observations also roughly corroborate this 
theory. He writes: 

Under the most favorable conditions these giants probably live 5,000 years or more, 
though few of even the larger trees are more than half as old. I never saw a Big 
Tree that had died a natural death; barring accidents they seem to be immortal, 
being exempt from all the diseases that afflict and kill other trees. Unless destroyed 
by man they live on indefinitely until burned, smashed by lightning, or cast down 
by storms, or by the giving way of the groiind on which they stand. The age of one 
that was felled in the Calaveras Grove, for the sake of having its stump for a dancing 
floor, was about 1,300 years, and its diameter, measured across the stump, 24 feet 
inside the bark. Another that was cut down in the Kings River forest was about 
the same size, but nearly a thousand years older (2, 200 years ) , though not a very 
old-looking tree. It was felled to procure a section for exhibition, and thus an 
opportunity was given to count its annual rings of growth. The colossal scarred 
monument in the Kings River forest mentioned above is burned half through, and 
I spent a day in making an estimate of its age, clearing away the charred surface 
with an ax and carefully counting the annual rings with the aid of a pocket-lens. 
The wood-rings in the section I laid bare were so involved and contorted in some 
places that I was not able to determine its age exactly, but I counted o\er 4,000 
rings, which showed that this tree was in its prime, swaying in the Sierra winds, 
when Christ walked the earth. No other tree in the world, as far as I know, has 
looked down on so many centuries as the Sequoia, or opens such impressive and 
suggestive views into history. 

These estimates are confirmed by the most recent investigations on 
the age of the Big Tree. 

GEOLOGIC HISTORY OF THE BIG TREE. 

Perhaps more impressive even than the size or age of the Big Tree 
is the past life of the species. As already stated, the fossils show the 
present survivor to be the remnant of a once numerous family. 
Dr. Asa Gray writes: 

The same Sequoia which abounds in the same Miocene formations in Northern 
Europe has been abundantly found in those of Iceland, Spitzbergen, Greenland, 



20 1U(! TKKKS OK CALIFORNIA. 

M;i(ki'ii/.i(" Ixivcr. Mini Alaskii, ll is umiiumI .S. LaiK/siloriii. Iml is |>i'(iiiiiiiiiri'il to lie 
very mucli likr N. !<fin/>crriniis. (uir liviii<i- rrdwooil of tlu- raliforiiii! ooast, ami to 
1h> dn' aiu'lciit n'i>n'si>ntativiM>f it. Fossil sikh-Iiiumis of a similar, if not t ho same, 
spot'ios have lu'cn rccrnlly (U'tiM'ted in the Rocky Mountains by llaydi'n, and detor- 
mim>d l)y our rminrnt palcontolo^ical liotanist, L('S(iuoivux: and he assures mo that 
ho has tht> common redwood itself from Oivyon, in a deposit of tertiary ajje. Another 
Si'cpioia (N. SicnthiTijii), diseovorod in niiocene deposits in (iroenland, is pronounced 
to be the representative of.S". ijlt/atitcit, the iiiir Tree of the (\difornian Sierra. If the 
Taxodium of tertiary time in ViUropo and throuiihont tiio arctic rejiions is the ancestor 
of our pre.>-ont bald cypress, which is assumed in roiranling them as specitically idtn- 
tical, then I thiidc we may, with our present lijrht, fairly assume that the two rod- 
woods of California are tlie direct or collateral doi'ondants of thi" two ancient s]>ocios 
which so closely n'sondiU> them. 

Tlu" forests of tlio an-tic zone in tertiary times contained at lea^t throe other sjiecies 
of Set|Uoia, as doternnnod by their remains, one of which, from Spitzborsii'n, also 
nnich resendtles the conunon redwood of (California. Another, "which ap|ioai"s to 
have l)eon the conuuonest coniferous tree on Oisco," was conunon in Kn^land and 
some other |>arts of Europe. So the Sequoias, now remarkable for their restricted 
station and numbers, as well as for their extmordinary size, are of an ancient stock; 
their ancestors and kindred formed a larue part of the forests whii'h Hourished 
throughout the polar rt\tiions. now di-solato and ici" clad, and which i-xtended into 
the low latitudes in Europe. On this continent one species at least had reached to 
the vicinity of its present habitat before the <;laciation of the resjion. Amonji the 
fossil specimens already found in (California, l)ut whii-h our trustworthy jniUvMito- 
lojjical botanist has not yet had time to examine, we may expect to find evidence of 
the early arri\ al of these two redwoods upon the irronnd whicli they now, after mndi 
vicissitude, si'autily occupy. 

NV Tl UAl. UKl'UOI^lH^TION OF THE lUU TREE. 

It may Ih> .^^uid tliat tlu* north o-rcive.s o\ Bio- Tivos .>^how llttlo or no 
sions oi" oxtiMulino- their vm-y liiiiitiHl runoo, hardly, «non. of holdiiio- 
their ])iv.<;oiit [>buH\ except uiulor thi> most favorable eoiiditioii.s. Mr. 
Siid\vt>rth, doiuir(d(\oist o\' the Divisit)ii oi Forestry, makes the foUow- 
ini>- stiitemeiits about the Calaveras (irove and Stanislaus (.xrove of Bio- 
Trees, whii'h, it is iin]iortant to notice. liav(^ been ])rotected from both 
lir»* and oi'azino' since the early fiftit^s: 

Inlike the other species of its kind (Sequoia >, the Coast Kedwoi^l, the Bijr Tnn^ 
reprodui'cs itself so slowly and with .such uncertainty as to be practically at a stand- 
still in these uroves. .\ few seedlings took root in ISoo-lS'ia in the Calaveras (i rove, 
and are now "J or ;> feet in diameter. There is no other evideut'e of im-rea.^e in this 
,<::rove. althou>rh the lari::e trees are in a most thrifty state. The forest is not well 
waterctl, and the humus is t(u> dry to enconraue tlu> reproduction of this species. 
Pines, tirs, and cedai"s ay>pear better able to jiropaijate themselves on the same ground. 
On the bonlei-s of the ixmve the soil is so constantly dry and ex^)osed to the tram- 
plina: of s^razing herds as to allow no reproiluction outside of the forest. Moreover, 
the sinali, heavy seeds are carried to no con^ider.ible distam-e bv the winds, as in the 
ease of the pines, tirs, and cedai-s. But if the rei>roduction of tlie Bisi Tree wore the 
best conceivable, it would take several thousiuid veal's to re]>hu'e the present jrrovos 
after they were destroyeii. 

The Stanislaus ( i rove is sparingly watered in parts by small perennial spriTis; streams, 
ami as a ix'sult shows a few small patches of Big Tree seeilhngs. tSee Tl. V. tig. 1.) 
The constant soil moisture in the vicinitv of these streams enables the seed to ger- 
minate, but only where big logs and other heavy debris exclude cattle and sheep. To 
lumber this tract would certainly soon effect the drying up of the small water supply, 
as it has alreaity done elsewhere. Ti^^> preservatimi of the race of Big Trees in this 
loi-ality is unquestionably dependent on maintaining the ]>ivseut groves intact. 

One reoion there is. however, where the Bio- Trees are reprodncino- 
themselves with some reo-ularity. This is on the S»nith Fork of the 
Ivawoah Kiver. and particularly ou hoth branches of the Tule River, 
where tlnM'e are yoimo- trees in abundance and of almost every ao-e. 
lUit the disiourao-ino- at^pect is that these oro\ es are at present likely 



BIG TKEKS OK CALIKOKNIA. '21 

to l)c cut (lowiu iiiul should tills hiipjMMi. (lie reproduction noted will 
jivuil little in ixM'petuiitinii' the species, without the protectini^- intluencc 
of the iiiotliei' forest. 

HOTANK^M- DKSCIMI'riON OK I'lIK IU(i PUKK. 

Tho t"ollo\vint>' tiM'hiiiciil desci-iption ol" the liie' 'I'l-ee is tuken fi-oin 
Prof. C S. Sju'j»eiit's •'Silvaof North Aiuerica:" 

Tlu' iivenific lu'i^lit of Se(nioi;i AV('lliii<j;t(iiiiii is alxmt 27r> Icct, ami its trunk (liaiiicter 
near tlie <i;r()un(l 20 feet, ultlioii^'li indiviihials I'l'din .'{00 to .'{20 feet tall, with trunks 
from 25 to .'in ivv\ thick, are not rare. Dnrinji four or live ciMitnries the taperinji' stem 
is clothed with slender, criiwde(l branches, which are erect ahove and horizontal near 
the middle of the tree, and hclow sweep toward the u'found in graceful curves, thus 
foiniinji- a dense narrow strict pyramid. ( Iradnally the lower hianchcs disappear, 
and those at the top of the tri-e lose their aspirin<i,' liahit; the trmd<, which is nnich 
cnlar^^Ml and hultrcssi-d at the huse, and lluted with broad low rounded rid<;es, 
becomes naked for 100 or l.')0 ft-et ; and the narrow, roundi'd crown of short liori/.on- 
tal branches loses its re<i;ularity, and yains piclures(|neness from the eccentriir dcn'cl- 
oi)ment of some of the branches or the (IcHtruction of others. (Set' IMs. 1 1 F, \'l I, 
and Vm.) 

The bark of old trees is from I (o 2 feet in thickness, and is divided into Hal 
rounded lobes 4 or .') feet wide, corresponding to the lobes of liie ti'indi, and sejia- 
I'atin^ into loose-librous sc;des; it is lijihl cinnanion-i'cd, and the outer scales aic 
sli^ditly tinfi:ed with purple, which is mori- conspicuous on the nnich thinner bark of 
younjj; trei'S. The leading' branchlets are stout, pendulous, and furnished with 
lunnenius slender crow<le(l much-divide<l rather closi'ly appressed lateral branch- 
lets, formin<i; densi; rnas.^es of spray; dark blne-<;n'en, like tin' U'a\cs when they lii'st 
appear, at the end of two or three years and after the disappearamc of their leaves 
the bianchlcts are rcfldish-bi'own, moi'c or less tinj^ed with purple, and e(i\cr-ed with 
thin close or sli^ihtly .scaly bark. 

'I'he leaves ar-e ovate, acmninale, or lanceolate, rounded and thickened on the lower 
surface, concave on the upju'r surface, and mai'ked with bands of stoniata on both 
sides of the ob.scin-i' midribs, rij^id and sharp pointed, decuirent below , s[)readinfi' or 
chjsely api)ress(^d above the middle, and from oiU'-eifi;hth to one-(|uarti'i' of an inch, 
or on stout leadinjj; shoots often one-half an inch in length; on younj^ sce<llin^ plants 
they are linear-lancH'ijlate, short-pointi'd, thin, spreailinji, jjilose, often ciliale on the 
mar^dns, and from oni'-half to three-fourths of an inch in len<;lli. 

The llowers, which open late in the winteror in early sprin<,% are produced in ^^real 
profusion, es|)ecially the staminate, which often cover the whole tree, and dust the 
forest and the jrround below it with their <^olden pollen. The staminate (lower, w hich 
is usually terminal, \aries from one-sixth to one-thii'd of an inch in len;;lh, w itii o\al(^ 
acute or acuminate denticulate comiecti\('s, and is subtended l)y bi'oailly ovat(^ scales 
rounded or acute at the apex, keeled on the back, concave on the inner surface, and 
slij^htly erose on the margins. The pistillate Hower is about one-third of an inch 
long, with from 2.'j to .'JO, or randy from .^5 to 40 pale yell<nv scales, slightly kcele<i 
on the back, gra(hially narrowed into long slender i)ointH, ami bewaring from 15 to 7 
ovules under each scale. 

The fruit is ovate-oblong, from 2 to S^ inches in length, from one-half inch to 2', 
inches in width, and <lark red-brown; the scales are furnished on the up])er side, ncai' 
the base, with two orthree large deciduous dark rcsin-glan<ls, and are gradually thick- 
ened n])ward from the base to the apex, which is only slightly dilated, and is from 
three-fourths of an inch to I, inches long, and from one-foiu'th to one-half of an 
inch wi<le, deeply i)itted in the middle, which is often ftu'iiished with an elongated 
reflexed nuicro, and fre<|uently transversely ridged; at niHlurity they remain straight 
and rigid and oj)en only slightly, the cone retaining its original form even when (Iry. 
l<^rom .'» to 7 seeds are produced imder each scale; they are linear-lanceolate, coni- 
pi'cssed, from one-eighth to oiie-fourlh inch in length, light brown, and surrounded 
by lateral united wings bnjuder tlian the body of the seed, apicidate at (he a])e.\, 
and often nnc<|ual. 

The Hig Tree is the largest inhal)itant of the ;\meri<'aii forests, and the most niassive- 
.stemmed although not the tallest trei' in tin; world. It grows in an uninterrupted 
belt, chielly associated with the Sugar Pine, tlu; Donghis Fir, and the Incituisc^ Cedar, 
from (he middle folk of tlu' Ameiican River' southward along the western (lank of 
the ( 'alifornia Sierras for a dislance of about 200 miles (o the head of Dec^' Cr'cck, 
the norlheru liuiitof this belt being neai' the thirty-ninth and its southern jusL south 



22 l?I(} TRMKS OK CAIJFUliNIA. 

of (lie lliirly-sixtli (U'gri'c of north latitudi-, and its (elevation from 5,000 U) 8,100 
feet al)ovi' the \vvv\ of tlu' sea. 

'riu' wood of the Bi>j; Tree is very liglit, soft, not strong, brittle, and coarse-grained, 
but very (hirable in contact witii the soil. It is bright clear red, turning darker on 
ex[)oHure, with thin nearly white sajnvood, and contains thin dark-colored conspic- 
uous bands of small sununer-cells and numerous thin medullary rays. The specific 
gravity of the absolutely dry wood is 0.2882, a cubic foot weighing 17.96 pounds. 
Manufactured into lumber, it is used locally for fencing and in construction, and is 
made into shingles. 

UOTANICAL NOMENCLATURE OF THE BIG TREE. 

I'lu' solcctioii of the propcM' sciontifie nuiue for the Big Tree has been 
tlie suhject of iiuich discussion, and is a (juestion concerning' which 
there is still considenihle disagr(>enieiit among authorities. Since the 
tree first IxM-aine icnowii to botanists it has recirived the live following 
sci(Mitilic names: 

1. Welliiigtonia gigantea Lindh\v. 1858. 

2. Sequoia giganti'a Decaisne. 1854:. 

8. Taxodiiim W'ashingtonianum Winslow. 1854. 

4. Se([uoia Wellingtonia Seeman. 1855. 

5. Sequoia Washingtoniana (Winsl.) Sudworth. 1898. 

For reasons founded on the tixed ])rincii)les in botanical law, the first 
two names are ])ermanently barred from use. The present dissension 
among authorities ciMiters on which of the last two names should be 
ap]>li(Hl to the Big Tree. It is believed, however, tiiat Sequoia Wash- 
ingtoniiuia is \\\v i-orrect name for this tree, as shown in Bulletin 17, 
l)i\ision of Forest! V. Tnited States Department of Agriculture. 

INTKODITTION OV rilE HUi TREE IXTO ('ULTIA^ATION. 

William Lobb visited the Calaveras (xrove in 1854 and succeeded in introducing 
this Sequoia into Knglisli gardens. It is now one of the most universally cultivated 
coniferous trees in all the coimtries oi central and southern Europe, but, while it 
has grown rapidly, it is already beginning to show that the existing climates of 
I'urope do not suit it, and that this glory of the Sierra forests need fear no rival 
among the emigrants of its race. It has also been occasionally cultivated in the 
eastern I'nited States, where it does not flourish, although it has occasionally sur- 
vived in a few sheltered or particularly favorable situations.' 

The best exampU's of success in cultivating this tree in the East are 
to be seen in t\\v nursery of INlessrs. Klwanger and Barry. Rochester, 
iS\ v.. where there are two trees about 35 feet high. 

OWNERSHIP OF HUi TREE LANDS. 

The ownershi]i of the Big-Tree timber lands of California is divided 
among the State, the Federal (xovernment. and private individuals. 

Spate lloi.DiMis. 

C alifornia owns but one tract, which includes the Mariposa Grove. 
This was ceded to California by the Fnited States in 1865, in an act 
known as the "' Yoseiiiite and Big Tree Grant," by the terms of which 
the State received the Yosemite Valley proper and the Mariposa 
(trove, to hold and protect as Stiite parks. The extent of the Mari- 
posa grant is 2 squart^ miles, or, roughly, about 4 per cent of the 
total area t)n which the Big Tree grows. 

U'rof. C\ S. Sarirent. in ''Silva of North America." 





«o 



I- z 



< I 



Map showinq Location of Big Tree Groves in Fresno and Tulare Counties, California. 

R.22E.-^ R.23E. ^ R.g4E. _ R25E. , R.26E. Rg7E ....^.^^E. R.29E. R.30E. R.3I E. R.32E. R33E, R.34E. ' R.3SE. R.36E. 




R.22E 



BIG TREES OF CALIFORNIA. 



23 



Government HoLDTXCis. 

The United States owns and in part controls two considerable areas, 
comprised within the Seqnoia and General Grant National parks. 
These are very difficult to define. According- to the acts of Gongress 
which established them October 1, 1890, they amount, respectively, to 
161,280 and 2,560 acres. But it is well known that in the first at least, 
tlic Big Trees stand largely in one group on the ]\Iarl)le Fork of the 
Kaweah River, with only very scattering neighbors of their own kind; 
and a like distinction prevails in the General Grant National Park 
grove. Furthermore, along the west and south boundaries of the 
bequoia National Park, there are seven valid private holdings, amount- 
ing to 1,012.87 acres, and an equally good claim of 160 acres in the 
General Grant National Park. In the first, also, there is a sawmill 
operating at the edge of the main clump of Big Tree timlier. which is 
again true of the second grove. Consequently, as it is not possible to 
assert what proportion of these parks contain Big Trees, or just what 
the private tracts comprise, it is equally impossible to state the extent 
of the Government holdings in Big Tree timber. It can only be 
' said that they are considerable, but imperfectly defined and poorly 
protected. 

Pkivate Holdings. 

These include by far the greater part of the Big Trees, and, except 
some groves in Tulare County, they are held by sawmill or logging- 
companies. The large tract on Kings River is almost entirely so 
owned; and the famous Calaveras or "Mammoth" GroAc. which has 
been carefully preserved since the early fifties, is now owned by a man 
who is said to represent a lumber syndicate. The Big Trees of Fresno 
County are controlled by the Sanger Lumber Company. The rest of 
the southern tracts, in and about and to the south of the Sequoia 
National Park, are divided chiefly into small areas among- private 
owners. 

Location of Big Tree Lands. 

The following list, and accompanying large map (PI. XVI), compiled 
from notes and a sketch map prepared by Prof. William R. Dudley,^ 
give the location, amount, and ownership of Big Tree lands in Fresno 
and Tulare counties. The data compiled is based upon the Tulare 
County recoi'ds of 1899-1900, and upon Professor Dudley's personal 
examination of the areas in question. The accompanying small map 
(PI. XVII) gives the general location of all the Big Tree groves. 

Fresno County. 

TOWNSHIP 13 SOUTH, RANGE 27 EAST. 



No. of 


No. on 


Size of 


section. 


map. 


claim. 






Acres. 


1 


1 


«40 


2 


1 


«80 


2 


•> 


a 40 


2 


3 


120 


11 


4 


40 


11 


3 


440 


12 


3 


480 


12 


5 


KiO 


13 


3 


280 



Name of owner. 



Fannie Wilcox 

do 

G. T. Nightbert and J. M. Fox 

Sany;t'r Lumber Co 

Ellrn S. Eastwood 

Saiiffer Luml)er Co 

do 

J. W. Blade 

Sanger Lumber Co 



Residence. 



Sanger, Cal. 

Do. 
Do. 



^ A collaborator in the Division in Forestry, United States Department of Agriculture. 



24 



Bid trp:es 0¥ califoknia. 



Ftrsiiu Couitti/ — ( 'oiitiimed. 
TOWNSHIP 13 SOUTH, RANGE 27 EAST— Ct)ntinued. 



No. of 


No. on 


section. 


map. 


13 


b 


14 


3 


15 


3 


16 


3 


16 


7 


21 


3 


22 


3 


22 


8 


23 


3 


24 


3 


24 


9 


2.5 


3 


26 


3 


27 


3 


28 


3 


29 


3 


29 


10 


30 


10 


31 


11 


32 


11 


32 


3 


33 


3 


34 


3 


35 


3 


36 


3 



Size of 
claim. 



Name of owner. 



Aires. 
340 

40 

40 
320 
320 
320 
480 
160 
440 

40 
160 
640 
640 
640 
640 
560 

80 
160 

80 
160 

40 
320 
440 
640 
640 



Residence. 



S. Sweet & Co Visalia, Cal. 

Sanger Lumber Co Sanger, Cal. 

do Do. 

do Do. 

E. D. Sullivan 

Sanger Lumber Co Do. 

do I Do. 

M. W. Kirkland and D. McRea San Franci.seo. Cal 



Sanger, Cal. 
Do. 



Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 



Sanger Lumber Co 

do 

W. N. Switzer 

Sanger Lumber Co 

do 

do 

do 

do 

James L. Young [ Lindsay, Cal. 

do Do. 

John C. Dunlap Dunlap, Cal. 

do 1 Do. 

Sanger Lumber Co Sanger, Cal. 

do 

do 

do 

do 



Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 



TOWNSHIP 13 SOUTH, -RANGE 28 EAST. 



3 


3 


4 


3 


5 


3 


5 


12 


7 


3 


8 


3 


9 


3 


10 


3 


13 


3 


13 


6 


13 


13 


14 


U.S. 


14 


3 


15 


3 


15 


14 


16 


3 


17 


3 


18 


3 


19 


U.S. 


20 


U.S. 


20 


3 


21 


3 


21 


u. s. 


22 


15 


22 


16 


22 


3 


22 


U. S. 


23 


3 


23 


16 


24 


3 


24 


17 


25 


3 


26 


3 


27 


3 


27 


U.S. 


28 


U.S. 


28 


18 


28 


3 


29 


3 


30 


3 


31 


3 


33 


U 13. 


U 


19 


34 


3 


35 


20 


35 


3 


36 


3 



440 
440 
160 
640 
640 
640 
640 
320 
160 
160 
160 
480 
440 
120 
640 
640 
640 
640 
160 
480 

40 
600 

40 
160 
280 
160 
480 
160 
480 
160 
480 
640 
480 
160 
160 
200 
280 
640 
640 
160 
640 
160 
320 
160 
480 
640 



Sanger Lumber Co Sanger, Cal. 

do Do. 

do Do. 

J. A. Schapp 

Sanger Lumber Co 

do 

do 

do 

do 

S. Sweet & Co 

E. Jacob 

United States 

Sanger Lumber Co 

do 

August Bergin 

Sanger Lumber Co 

do 

do 

United States 

do 

Sanger Lumber Co 

do 

United States 

Mrs. Ella Bvrnes 

S. Mitchell.' 

■Sanger Lumber Co 

United States 

SauKer Lumber Co 

S. Mitchell 

Sanger Lumber Co 

Fox and Sweetland 

Sanger Lumber Co 

do 

do 

United States 

do 

John W. Parker 

Sanger Lumber Co 

do 

do 

do 

United States 

Louis Seligman j Dinuba, Cal, 

Sanger Lumber Co Sanger, Cal. 

W. E. Weld I Visalia , Cal. 

Sanger Lumber Co Sanger, Cal. 

do Do. 



Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Visalia, Cal. 
Do. 

Sanger, Cal. 
Do. 

Do. 
Do. 
Do. 



Do. 
Do. 

Visalia, Cal. 

Sanger, Cal. 

Do. 

Do. 
Lemoore, Cal. 
Sanger, Cal. 

Do. 

Do. 



Dinuba, Cal. 
Sanger, Cal. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 



a Sold for taxes, 1899. 



BIG TREES OF CALIFORNIA. 

Frexiio C'mirili/ — ('ontinued. 
TOWNSHIP 13 SOUTH, RANGE 29 EAST. 



25 



No. of No. on 
section, map. 



Size of 
claim. 



Name of owner. 



Residence. 



3 

3 

3 

3 

21 

U.S. 

U.S. 

3 

3 

3 

22 

3 

3 

3 

16 

21 

21 

23 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 



Acres. 
320 
160 
640 
320 
160 

8C 
320 
320 
320 
320 

40 
160 
120 
240 
120 

80 

80 

40 
120 

40 
240 
160 

40 
160 
160 
160 



Sanger LnmluT Co Sanger, Cal, 

do Do. 

do Do. 

do Do. 

S. VV. Finker Alma. Mich. 

United States 

do 

Sanger Lumber Co 

do 

do 

D. K. Zumwalt 

Sanger Lumber Co 

do 

do 

S. Mitchell 

S.W. Finker 

do 

Richard Hedinger 

Sanger Lumber Co 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do Sanger, Cal 

do Do. 

do Do. 



Sanger, Cal. 

Do. 

Do. 
Visalia, Cal. 
Sanger, Cal. 

Do. 

Do. 

Alma, Mich. 

Do. 
Fresno, Cal. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 



Tulare County. 
TOWNSHIP 14 SOUTH, RANGE 27 EAST. 



No. of j No. on 
section.' map. 



Size of 
claim. 



Name of owner. 



Residence. 



1 
2 
3 

11 I 
12 
12 
12, 

12 I 
13 

13 , 

14 j 
24 i 



Acres. 

640 

640 

160 

120 

40 

80 

200 

160 

400 

80 

40 

200 



Sanger Lumber C". 

do..., 

do 

Granville Millsap.. 

do 

Frankfiiiaii & Son . 
Sanger Lumber Co. 
Adulinc Coinstoek . 

do 

E. W. Jardine 

Adaline Comstock . 
J. R. Rodgers 



Sanger, Cal. 

Do. 

Do. 
Sold for taxe.s. 1899. 

Do. 
Sanger, Cal. 

Do. 



TOWNSHIP 14 SOUTH, RANGE 28 EAST. 



1 


.30 


1 


31 


1 


32 


1 


33 


2 


33 


2 


34 


2 


3 


3 


3 


5 


35 


7 


3 


S 


36 


10 


37 


n 


33 


12 


33 


13 


37 


14 


37 


14 


38 


15 


38 


15 


39 


15 


37 1 


15 


40 ' 


15 


411 



80 
160 
80 
40 
120 
80 
80 
80 
160 
80 
40 
80 
120 
200 
80 
240 
200 
280 
40 
120 
120 
40 



S. Plunkett 

L. M. Atwill and Benj. Hicks 

L. O. Cutler 

A. J. Weston 

do 

Otto Sweet 

Sanger Lumber Co 

do 

E.O.Miller 

Sanger Lumber Co 

Meyer E. Iseman 

Peter McArthur 

A. J. Weston 

do 

Peter McArthur 

do 



George D. Bliss 

do 

P. Dougherty 

Peter McArthur 

Horace Whitaker 

J. S, Boyd or — , — . Howard. 



Visalia, Cal. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 
Sanger, Cal. 

Do. 
Visalia, Oal. 
Sanger, Cal. 
Visalia, Cal. 
Detroit, Mich. 
Visalia, Cal. 

Do. 
Detroit, Mich. 

Do. 
San Francisco, Cal. 

Do. 
Visalia, Cal. 
Detroit, Mich, 
Orosi, Cal. 
Reedley,Cal. 



26 



BIG TREES OF CALIFORNIA. 



Tulare County — Contiuued. 
TOWNSHIP 14 SOUTH, RANGE 28 EAST— Continued. 



No. of No. on 
section, map. 



Size of 
claim. 



Name of owner. 



Residence. 



Acres. 

40 

160 

160 

320 

80 

160 

80 

120 

•40 

80 

40 

40 

40 

40 

400 

120 

440 

40 

80 

400 

80 

160 

160 

160 

160 

160 

40 

120 

80 

40 

40 

40 

280 

80 

160 

320 

40 

160 

160 

40 



R. Z. Dudley 

Horace Whitaker 

Tax deed, State of California 

William Coburn 

E. Jacob 

do , 

Horace Whitaker 

Mary I. Evans 

T. Rooney 

J. W. Guinn and E. L. Huffman 

Estelle Ruggles 

Horace Whitaker 

J. W. Giiinn and E. L. Huffman 

R. Z. Dudley 

Peter Mc Arthur 

E. O. Miller 

George D. Bliss 

Peter McArthur 

Wm. Z. Garton 

Peter McArthur 

Tax deed. State of California 

Claus Spree kels 

E. O. Miller 

Peter McArthvu- 

Estate of Thos. Wootton 

C. W. Clark 

E. O. Miller 

J. Goldman 

A. R. Orr, one-half, and R. Chatten, one-half. 

R. Z. Dudlev 

R. Chatten 

J. O. Osborn 

J. Goldman 

A. Lewis 

A. D. Halstead 

Peter McArthur 

do 

C. W. Clark 

E. O. Miller 

Flovd B. Wilson 



Visalia, Cal. 
Orosi, Cal. 

Springville,Cal. 
Visalia, Cal. 

Uo. 
Orosi, Cal. 



Visalia, Cal. 

Orosi, Cal. 
Visalia, Cal. 

Do. 
Detroit, Mich. 
Visalia, Cal. 
San Francisco, Cal. 
Detroit, Mich. 

Do. 

San Francisco, Cal. 
Visalia, Cal. 
Detroit, Mich. 
Fresno, Cal. 
Sacramento, Cal. 
Visalia, Cal. 
Tulare, Cal. 
Visalia, Cal. 

Do. 

Do. 
Exeter, Cal. 
Tulare, Cal. 

Visalia, Cal. 
Detroit, Mich. 

Do. 
Sacramento, Cal. 
Visalia, Cal. 



TOWNSHIP 15 SOUTH, RANGE 28 EAST. 



3 


37 


4 


37 


4 


60 





37 



120 Peter McArthur Detroit, Mich. 

480 ' do I Do. 

160 I James Halstead i Visalia, Cal. * 

80 I Peter McArthur Detroit. Mich. 



TOWNSHIP 15 SOUTH, RANGE 30 EAST. 




J. F. Jordan Visalia, Cal. 

N. W. Tharp -. Do. 

J. F. Jordan Do. 

do Do. 



TOWNSHIP 16 SOUTH, RANGE 30 EAST. 




J. F. Jordan, one-half ] 

X. W. Tharp, one-quarter [-Visalia, Cal. 

H. D. Tharp, one-quarter 1 1 

H. D. Tharp ' Do. 

Gus. Weinman i 



TOWNSHIP 16 SOUTH, RANGE 31 EAST. 




J. L. Hamilton ) Kxeter, Cal. 

do ' Do. 



BIG TREES OF CALIFORNIA. 

Tulare County — Continued. 
TOWNSHIP 17 SOUTH, RANGE 29 EAST. 



27 



No. of 


No 


on 


section. 


map. 


•23 




66 


•25 




67 


26 




67 


26 




6« 


26 




69 


26 




70 


•26 




71 


•26 




72 


27 




73 


35 




67 


35 




35 


36 




72 



Size of 
claim. 



40 
80 
40 
40 
160 
160 



160 
320 



Name of owner. 



Ira Chrisman 

Wm. T. Bell 

do 

Mary E. South worth. 

A. Hammer 

James Fislier 

C. F. Brthwell 

120 I Lon Lewis 

240 L. M. Howell 

Wm. T. Bell 

E.O.Miller 

Lon Lewis 



Residence. 



Visalia, Cal. 



Do. 

Do. 
Threerivers, Cal. 
Visalia, Cal. 

Do. 

Do. 
Do. 



TOWNSHIP 17 SOUTH, RANGE 30 EAST. 



James McPadzean Threerivers, Cal. 

.... do Do. 

J. H. Moore, one-fourth j) 

W. F. Dean, one-fourth : I ^ 

Maria Luce, one-fo\irth | ( 

J. D. MdUinex, one-fourth J 

Marv M. Atwill J Visalia, Cal. 

....do Do. 



TOWNSHIP 17 SOUTH, RANGE 31 EAST. 



TOWNSHIP 19 SOUTH. RANGE 30 EAST. 



90 

91 

89 

88 

92 

93 

86 

94 

96 

95 

96 

97 

98 

99 

100 

101 

101 

88 

102 

103 



240 
40 
280 
360 
120 
40 
160 



40 



80 

320 

80 

80 

120 

160 
40 

40 



160 
120 

40 
240 

40 

40 
160 
160 

80 
320 

80 
160 



J. M. Canty... 
N. P. Dillon . . 
J. M. Canty... 
N. P. Dillon . . 

do 

do 

do 

J. F. Lindsay . 

N. P. Dillon . . 



P. J. Nash, one-half, and Alice A. Nash, one- 
half. 

J. J. Doyle 

Louisa Greenwald -, 

Entcriirisc Lumber Co 

Jesse Uoskins 



George E. Guerne in Enterprise Lumber Co. 

Louisa Greenwald 

A. M. Rexroat 

E. T. Dibble 

(Alice A. Nash one-half and L. Bertch one- 
\ half. 

Bank of Tulare 

....do 

Achille Weil 

F. H. Smith 

H. F. Ro.se 

Ida G. Sharp 

James Redfield 

E. W. Haughton 

....do 

Loui-sa Greenwald 

James Parriman 

A.M. Coburn « 



Grayson, Cal. 
Milo, Cal. 
Grayson, Cal. 
Milo, Cal. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 
Said to be same interest as 

N. P. Dillon. 
Milo, Cal. 

Salem, Mass. 

Porterville, Cal. 
San Francisco, Cal. 
Springville, Cal. 
Lindsay, Cal. 

Springville, Cal. 

San Francisco, Cal. 
Tipton, Cal. 

f Salem, Mass. 
tTulare, Cal. 

Do. 

Do. 
San Francisco, Cal. 



Munson, Cal. 



Springville, Cal. 

Do. 
San Francisco, Cal. 

Springville, Cal. 



28 



BIG TREES OF CALIFORNIA. 



Tularr County — Continued. 
TOWNSHIP 19 SOUTH, RANGE 31 EAST. 



No. of 
section. 


No. on 
map. 


Size of 
claim. 


Name of owner. 


Residence. 




18 


88 

88 

104 

105 

106 

88 

88 

88 

88 

106 

107 

f 91 

t 89 

( 91 

1 89 

108 

109 

110 


Aa-es. 

120 

200 

160 

160 

40 

40 

40 

320 

200 

80 

160 

1 80 

} » 

80 
80 
80 


Louisa Greenwald : 


San Francisco, Cal. 

Do. 
Tulare, Cal. 
Bukersfield, Cal. 
Council Bluffs, Iowa. 
San Francisco, Cal. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 
Council Bluffs, Iowa. 
Han ford, Cal. 

Springville, Cal. 

Do. 

Hanford,Ca]. 
Santa Rosa, Cal, 
Do. 




19 


do 




19 


C. M. Stone 




19 
19 


Martha E. Taggart 

Elizabeth J. Sliirlev 




20 


Louisa Greenwald 




28 


do 




29 


do 




30 


do 




30 
30 

30 
31 


Elizabeth J. Shirley 

Bella Van Valkenburg 

George E. Guerne. in Enterprise Lumber Co. 
......do 




31 


E. T. Gosper 




31 


J.M.Talbot 




31 


J. M. Bowles 











TOWNSHIP 20 SOUTH, RANGE 30 EAST. 



1 


88 


1 


85 


'•> 


101 


•) 


88 


•) 


99 


3 


99 


10 


103 


11 


103 


12 


88 



520 
40 
160 
160 
40 
80 
80 
40 
80 



Louisa Greenwald San Francisco, Cal. 

F. J. Nash ' Salem, :\rrtss. 

E. VV. Haughton Springville, Cal. 



Louisa Greenwald 

Ida G. Sharp 

do 

A. M. Coburn 

do 

Louisa Greenwald 



San Francisco, Cal. 
Munson, Cal. 

Do. 
Springville, Cal. 

Do. 
San Francisco, Cal. 



TOWNSHIP 20 SOUTH,.RANGE 31 EAST. 



6 


88 


9 


111 


16 


112 


35 


113 


35 


114 


36 


113 



80 
40 
640 
280 
160 
640 



Louisa Greenwald San Francisco, Cal. 

Prank T. Bowers IE. O. Miller, Visalia, 

Samuel Davis j agent. 



Cal., 



Estate of John P. Fleitz. 

Nellie L. Marshall 

Estate of John P. Fleitz. 



Detroit, Mich. 
Detroit, Mich. 



TOWNSHIP 20 SOUTH, RANGE 32 EAST. 



28 


88 


29 


88 


31 


88 


32 


88 


32 


113 


33 


113 


33 


88 


34 


113 



320 

400 
40 
360 
80 
320 
160 
280 



Lom.sa Greenwald 

do 

do 

do 

Estate of John P. Fleitz. 

do 

Louisa Greenwald 

Estate of John P. Fleitz. 



San Francisco, Cal. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 
Detroit, Mich. 

Do. 
San Francisco, Cal. 
Detroit, Mich. 



TOWNSHIP 21 SOUTH, RANGE 31 EAST. 



1 


113 


2 


113 


6 


113 


1 


113 


I 


115 


8 


115 


8 


88 


8 


113 


9 


113 


16 


88 


17 


88 


17 


113 


18 


113 



640 
240 
160 
480 
120 
120 
240 
40 
160 
640 
400 
240 
160 



Estate of John P. Fleitz Detroit, Mich. 

do Do. 

do Do. 

do I Do. 

James L. Miner Poplar, Cal. 

do Do. 

Louisa Greenwald San Francisco, Cal. 

Estate of John P. Fleitz Detroit, Mich. 

do Do. 

Louisa Greehwald San Francisco, Cal. 

do Do. 

Estate of John P. Fleitz Detroit, Mich. 

do Do. 



No. of 


No. on 1 


Size of 


section. 


map. 


claim. 






Acres. 


(1 


115 


120 


(1 


88 


80 


(1 


113 


240 


/ 


113 


400 


18 


113 


80 



Hid TKKES OF C'.VLIKOKNIA. 

Tiiliirc ( 'oiiiih/ — ( 'out imicil. 
TOWNSllll' 21 SOfTH. RANCilC ;i2 KAST. 

Nami' of owner. 



29 



Cornelius A. Davidson . 

Louisa Greenwald 

Estate of John I*. Flcitz 

do 

do 



Residence. 



San Bernardino. 
San Francisco, ChI 
Detroit, Midi. 

Do. 

Do. 



TOWNSHIP 22 SOUTH, RANGE 31 EAST. 



400 Estate of John P. Fleitz Detroit, Mich 



TOWNSHIP 23 SOUTH, RANGE 31 EAST. 



1 


113 


640 


•> 


113 


(540 


3 


113 


520 





113 


40 


1 


113 


440 


2 


113 


640 


3 


113 


480 



Estate of John P. Fleitz. 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 



Detroit, Mich. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 



TOWNSHIP 23 SOUTH, RANGE 3'.. EAST. 




LUMBERIN(; THE BIG TREES. 



The lumbering of the Big- Tree is destructive to a most unusual 
degree. In the lirst place the enormous size and weight of the trees 
necessarily entails very considerable ))reakage when one of them 
falls. Such a tree strikes the ground with a force of many hundreds 
or even thousands of tons, so that even slight inequalities are suffi- 
cient to smash the brittle trunk at its upper extremity into almost use- 
less fragments. The loss from this cause is great, but it is only one 
of the sources of waste. The great diameter of the logs and, in spite 
of the lightness of the wood, their enormous weight make it impossi- 
ble to handle many of them without breaking them up. For this pur- 
pose gunpowder is the most available means. The fragments of logs 
blown apart in this wny are not onl}^ often of wasteful shapes, but 
unless very nice judgment is exercised in preparing the l)last, a great 
deal of the wood itself is scattered in useless splinters. (See Pis. IX, X. ) 

At the mill, where waste is the rule in the manufacture of lumber 
in the United States, the Big Tree makes no exception. This waste, 
added as it is to the other sources of loss already mentioned, makes a 
total probably often considerably in excess of half the total ^'olume of 
the standing tree; and this is only one side of the matter. 

The Big Tree stands as a rule in a mixed forest composed of many 
species. The result of Sequoia lumbering upon this forest is best shown 
by the photographs. (See Pis. IX, X, XI, XII, XIII.) The destruc- 
tion caused l)y the fall of the enormous trees is in itself great, but the 
principal source of damage is the immense amount of debris left on 



80 BIG TREES OF CALIFORNIA. 



M 



the ground — tho c-ertuin sourio of future tires. This nuiss of l)roken 
branches, trunks, and l)ark. is often 5 or ♦'» or even more feet in thick- 
ness, and necessarily gives rise to fires of great destructive power, 
even though the Big Tree wood is not specially intianunable. The 
devastation which follows such lumbering is as complete and deplorable 
as the untouched forest is unparalleled, beautiful, and worthy of preser- 
vation. As a rule it has not even had the advantage of being profit- 
able. Ver}' much of this appalling destruction has been done without 
leaving the owners of the Big Trees as well ofi' as they were before it 
began. 

O 



L.1DKHKY OF CONGRESS 



000 922 437 3( 



